Capo - Use

Use

Arrangements often cite the proper capo position for songs that should be played with a capo just as they may cite alternate tunings when those are used by the artist. When referencing fingerings for a song that uses a capo, it must be determined whether reference will be made to the absolute finger position, or whether reference will be made to the position relative to the capo. For example, in tablature, a note played on the fifth fret of an instrument capoed at the second fret could be listed as "5" (absolute) or "3" (relative to capo). Similarly, a D-shaped chord could be referred to as "D" (based on the shape relative to the capo) or E (based on the absolute audible chord produced). Neither method strongly prevails over the other. For this reason, the phrase "chord-shape" is commonly used to clarify that the fingering shape and not the audible pitch is being referred to.

Playing with a capo creates the same musical effect as retuning all of the strings of an instrument up the same number of steps; however, when using a capo, only the open note of each string is affected. Every other fret remains unaffected (e.g. the 7th fret of an E-string will still play a B note for any capo position at or below the 7th fret), and thus a performer does not need to adjust for or relearn the entire fretboard as they might with retuning. It should be noted that the scale length of the strings of an instrument affects the timbre of the strings, and thus the use of a capo may alter the tone of the instrument while the capo is in use.

Capos can also be used to allow a guitar which has been tuned one or more semitones lower than standard tuning to play as if it were in standard tuning without retuning the instrument. Manufacturers used to recommend that 12-string guitars be tuned a tone below standard guitar tuning because of the additional stress to the instrument of the six additional strings. As a result, a capo was necessary to play a 12-string guitar at the same tuning as a six-string guitar. However, improved manufacturing techniques have allowed many modern 12-strings to be tuned up to pitch without need for a capo.